Tim Wheeler/PW
PORT ANGELES, Wash. – To celebrate World Rivers Day last September 24, thousands of us heeded the call of Earth Law Center leader Elizabeth Dunn and took to the path to the Elwha River. gathered for a walk.
We were protesting plans to clear 68 acres of woodland near the banks of the Elwha River, in a so-called “powerhouse” area that could easily fall into the river with a stone throw.
Logging this land so close to the Elwha River is an arrogant and ignorant insult to the taxpayers who paid $350 million a decade ago to remove a two-century-old dam on the Elwha River. did. These dams caused the extinction of several salmon species upstream of the dams.
Chinook, coho salmon and other salmon species have rebounded since the dam was removed a decade ago.
We all know that our cause is hopeless and that the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, has already proposed a sale to Oregon-based logging company Murphy Company. He had approved it and was repeatedly convinced that the sale would be canceled. The sale exposes DNR to breach of contract lawsuits.
But yesterday, Franz announced that the timber sales had been discontinued. This is part of the DNR’s comprehensive proposal to protect 2,000 acres of forest in the river basin that are essential for drinking water, salmon recovery, carbon sequestration and recreation.
approval required
An agreement has been reached to end the power plant’s wood sales, but the plan still needs approval from county commissioners in all counties affected by the proposal.
In retrospect, Elizabeth Dunn seemed unfazed by any gloom or doom, even though the Earth Law Center and other environmental groups lost in court in their bid to cancel the sale. There is a reason. Dunn must have felt that this timber sale was a step too far in the greed of the timber companies.
We walked along its beautiful trails and Elizabeth explained to us the vital importance of mature firs, cedars and spruces in storing large amounts of carbon, which is key to fighting climate change. She pointed out that the Elwha River supplies all of the drinking water for the city of Port Angeles. The river is one of the most beautiful rivers west of the Mississippi, flowing out of the Olympic Mountains, and is home to the Lower Elwha tribe of salmon-based Skaram tribes.
After that walk, several of us went to every Clallam County Commission meeting to plead to join the call to end the timber sales. Ellen Menshew, Brian Grado, Lisa Decker, and many other environmentalists spoke repeatedly, imploring all three commissioners to join in the effort to save the Elwha Watershed.
The Port Angeles City Council voted unanimously to halt the timber sale to protect Pennsylvania’s drinking water.
We were recruited to the cause by Democratic Rep. Mike Chapman, who is currently a Washington State Senate candidate, and he invited several of us to attend a fundraiser for Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). I pulled it aside. Chapman said we must commit to this fight and protect the Elwha watershed and other areas vital to restoring endangered fish species, providing drinking water and recreation for millions of visitors. He said he plans to introduce legislation aimed at protecting rivers.
The Clallam County Democratic Party unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an end to “power plant” logging sales.
Indeed, Franz’s reversal was part of her election strategy. She announced her candidacy for governor of Washington state, competing against fellow Democrat Bob Ferguson. Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer then announced that she would not seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mr. Franz subsequently announced that he would no longer run for governor and would seek to replace Mr. Kilmer in the House of Representatives. It remains to be seen whether the environmental movement will support Mr. Franz, who has faced damning revelations that he received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from wealthy timber interests.
But for now, we’re celebrating a victory that everyone said we’d never win. That said, keep your eye on the prize! Believe in the people at the grassroots! Let’s mobilize them to win what is rightfully theirs, first and foremost clean drinking water.
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